ROBBIE READY

Robbie Keane says the team are looking forward to performing on our home stage again and reports that spirits are high ahead of the visit of Aston Villa on Saturday.

Robbie Keane says the team are looking forward to performing on our home stage again and reports that spirits are high ahead of the visit of Aston Villa on Saturday.

The striker, who netted our equalising goal in the 1-1 draw at Villa Park back in September, is anticipating another tricky examination against the Midlands side while confident the team can put recent setbacks behind them and build on our Premiership points tally.

"That was an important result for us as Villa Park is always a tough place to go," reflected Robbie. "We were lucky enough to get a point in the end, but we'll expect another test on Saturday. We have to get back on track and back into winning ways.

"We were disappointed last week up at Liverpool, we deserved to get something out of the game, but now we have to put it right against Villa," he continued before looking back at his scoring opportunity at Anfield that went begging early in the second half.

"I should have scored and I was very upset with that.

You can't score them all and I can't let it affect me as we should be quite pleased with the way we played up there. Hopefully, if selected, I can put it right.

"Team spirit is still high and there is plenty of banter flying about. Everyone seems to be fine but it is on Saturday we have to prove it.

"The good thing about having a few away games is that you look forward to playing at home even more. I'm sure all the lads will be up for it and will want to put a decent show on like we did last time against Newcastle. We played ever so well in that game and I'm sure the fans will want us to play like that again.